Environmental Health & Safety

Fire Extinguishers and Their Use Guidelines

Used properly, a portable fire extinguisher can save lives and property by
extinguishing a small fire or containing it until the fire department
arrives. Portable fire extinguishers, however, are not designed to fight large
or spreading fires.

Swift reaction to a fire can determine whether or not the incident is controlled.
Following established procedures is critical to saving lives and property.
It is important that employees learn appropriate emergency procedures.

All others are flight buildings where the most
appropriate action is to activate the fire alarm and evacuate immediately.

Before deciding to fight a fire follow RACE:

ØRescue
anyone in immediate danger and remove the person to a safe area;

ØActivate
the building fire alarm, then call Public Safety at x13 or #413 from your cell phone from a safe location and
report the fire;

ØConfine
the fire by closing all doors;

ØEvacuate
if the fire is spreading beyond the point of origin or the fire could block
your exit or you are not sure how to use an extinguisher;

OR

ØExtinguish
the fire if you have activated the fire alarm and closed doors, the fire is
small and contained, you have a clear exit from the fire and you have been trained
on the proper use of an extinguisher within the last year.

Remember -- fire spreads quickly. If you cannot extinguish it in 30 seconds,
get yourself out.

To choose the proper extinguisher:

Ø For ordinary fires involving solids such as wood, paper, and
cloth, choose a water or dry chemical extinguisher with a label that says Class
A or ABC. Do not use water on flammable liquid or electrical fires.

Ø For fires involving flammable liquids, choose a dry chemical
or carbon dioxide extinguisher with a label that says Class B or ABC. Never use a
water extinguisher.

Ø For fires involving metals, chose a graphite extinguisher with
label that says Class D or use sand found in buckets located in laboratories.
Never use an A, B, or C extinguisher on this type of fire.

Ø For fires involving cooking equipment such as deep fat fryer
chose a wet chemical extinguisher with a label that says Class K. Never use
a water extinguisher.

To use an extinguisher:

Remember the acronym PASS, keep a clear exit behind
you and stand 6-8 feet away from the fire.

ØPull the pin to activate the handle.

ØAim the nozzle at the base of the fire

ØSqueeze the handle to expel the extinguishing agent at the base of the fire. (When the agent first hits the fire, the fire
may briefly flare up. This should be expected.)

ØSweep the extinguishing agent from side to side pushing the fire away from you.
Discharge the entire contents of the extinguisher. Do not use more than 1 fire extinguisher on a fire.

Once the fire is out, the user should carefully back away from the fire until the user is safe. Never turn your back
on fire as it could flare back up.

When to Fight a Fire

The only time a fire extinguisher should be
used to fight a fire is when the fire department has been notified, there is
a clear exit behind the person using the extinguisher and the fire is small,
self-contained, and not spreading rapidly and you have received fire extinguisher training within the last year.

Never Fight a Fire If

the fire alarm has not been activated and an evacuation has not begun

the fire is spreading beyond the point where it started.

you don’t know what is burning – then you won’t know what type of fire extinguisher to use.

there is not an escape exit behind the person attempting to fight the fire.

the fire can block the only exit.

you might inhale toxic smoke.

the individual is not thoroughly familiar with effective fire extinguisher use or trained within the last year.

the available fire extinguisher is not rated for the type of fire being fought.

your instincts tell you not to. If you are uncomfortable with the situation
for any reason, get out and let the fire department fight the fire.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to schedule extinguisher
training, call the EH&S Fire Marshal’s Office at X 5-3243.